Flexible-rim vehicle-wheel.



J. OORRIGAN.

mum Aug. 24. 1909.

m. E1 EM HI- Wb Ev L0 0 m u I. I" m ET n no u P D- A UNITED s'rAr s If'iENT OFFICE.

Joann cement. or ,nocxnznoz. PINNBYINAIIA. sentence or can-mum re main mar AID cits-nun 'ro navm x. rncxeon. mom or nocxumoz.

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truism-an; VEHICLE-WHEEL Specification of Letters rate-t.

Patented Aug. 24, 1909.

Appttaattea Ila Iaveatber I, 1.07. Serial Ie. some.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Josmutf'onanmu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockledge, county of Montgomery. St ate of Penn lvania. have invented a new and useful F exible-ltim \"ehicle-Wheel. of which the following is a speciflcat'imi.

My presentinvention "consists of a novel construction of a flexible rim vehicle wheel in which the hubs and the spokes are ri id and ,in which novel means is inter xmed ietween the spokes and the rim for securing the parts in assembled position and at the same time permitting the yielding movement of the rim at certain times.

It further consists of a novel construction of a vehicle wheel in which a flexible rim is employed, which may be covered with a layer of leather, rubber or other resilient material, if desired.

It further consists of a novel construction in which a flexible rim is employed, between which and the spokes is interposed a plurality of sprin members, said members being maintainer in position .by means of a novel fastenin device carried by the spokes and movable t ierei'n.

It further consists of novel means .for regulating the tension of the springs against the rim member.

It further consists of a novel construction of a vehicle wheel in which the rim is flexible and is deflected inwardly at intervals in i order to interlock at certain places with a spring member, against which latter bears a aecon member icing secured to tension members 'ive 'ra'tisfactory and reliable results, all-'- t tough it is to he understoml that the various ins'runu-ntalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and lil2uuized and that. my im'enti-.nt is not limited t" the precise arrangenn-ut and organization of these. instrmuentalities as herein shown.

Fi are i repieseuts. 'in side elevation, a vehie e whee. emlualying my invention.

1 l l l i of the bolt. 12 which is provl a )ring member, said second spring i the scope of my invention a movably mounted ill the spokes and prolfig. 2 re )reaents a sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section on. line a2--.r, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

7 Referring to the drawings. 1 designates the hub to which spokes '2 are seeuwd in any suitable manner, said spokes being hollow or provided attheir ends with the a mrtnres 3 m which the threaded extension 4 of a tension regulating member 5 is adapted to be seated. said member 5 being provided with an adjusting nut (i and a lock nut 7, whereby the distance to which said threaded rod 4 may extend into the aperture 3 may be limited as desired.

The member 5 is provided with an uper tare 8 therethrough m which the spring 9 is adapted to be seated, a spring or other member 10 being also employed to increase the strength of the member 9. The member 5 is slotted at its upper end as indicated at 11 and a bolt 12 passes through the flanges 13 whereby the members 9 and 10 are rigidly secured to the member r, it bein nnderstmd that owing to the manner in which the memher 5 is slotted, at ll, there is a c rtain amount of resiliency in the flan cs 13 so that when the same'are drawn tofiet er by means ed with a suitable end, said members 9 and 10 will he firmly secured in assembled )osition. in the present instance I have pre erred to show a single spring 9 as being em iloyed. although it will he understood that this may be formed of a plurality of springs and still be within In] that the same will act. in the. same manner as a single 1 spring, which I have herein shown.

I t I l l I i t l l l "l' urim members it: and I8 1 spring member 20 is prov The spring 9 curves inwardly at regular points as indicated at l-l and curves utwardly as indicated at If. at which point it 1 eugages the inner rim member It and :u illustrate my invention, I have Q to showan embodiment thereof member 1 is also pr ferably employed Ill order to titl'eu and reinforce the rim lti 1 without tltslltttltlg any of the rmulnad ell'ert.

are drlh-eti-d mnaldlv a indicated at l" in order that at said puiuts they will be sealed in each other. forming intevlm-liing means.

lml ludwccu llarim ltl llll t'l' Hi and the sprint' H :wnu :uddi

lltl

tlonal shock absorbing means. This means also baa the ear pieces or lugs 17 which nerve to retain it in position by engaging the sides of the rim pieces 16 and 18. At its central portion is formed an interlocking depression 21 adapted to engage the rim at projection 19.

From the above description, the operation of the'invention is clear, the flexible rim bending inward and taking up the first impact with the ground or an obstacle thereon communicating it to the interlocked spring and from there to the spring on the spokes where the shock is practically elnninated. Furthermore, skidding of the vehicle in rounding corners or the like is prevented by the increased amount of friction surface.

it will now be ap aireut that l-have dc vised a novel and uncle] construction of liesihle rim wheel which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention and the above de-' ncription and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which gives in practice satisfacto and reliable results, it is to be underst that the same is euweptible of modification in various departing from the spirit and ucope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advanlager.

llavmg thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is:

1. In a wheel, a hub, spokes therefor, a flexible rim, a sprin connecting said spokes and rim, a series 0 springs interposed between said rim and first mentioned spring,

particulars without I and interlocking means ing at intervals with said run, and guiding means forsaid on said rim caliperatmg with each spring of the series.

2, In a wheel, a hub, spokes therefor, a flexible mm, a spring connecting said spokes and run lugs on said spring coiiperati with said rim a series of springs interp between and rum and first mentioned spring, and interlocking means on said rim cooperatmg with each'spring of-the series.

3., In a wheel, a hub, spokes therefor, a plurality of members forming a flexible rim, a spring secured to said spokes and contactrim, and means for positioning and ram and spring and permit ting relative movement therebetween.

4. In a wheel, a hub, spokes therefor, a plurality of members forming a flexible I'IIII a c'pl'lnl encn-cled b said members, sail apt-mg icing detacha ily connected to said spokes and contacting atintervals with said spring and run at nanl lmllllri of contact, iermutin relative movement between Htlll, rim and apriu l 5. n a wheel, a hub, spokes therefor, a plurality of members forming a flexible rim, a spring encircled by said run and contacting at intervals therewith. detachable connection between said spring and apokea, guiding means for mid spring and rim to permit. relative mownn-nt therebeta'rcn. and a series of springs intermediate of said points of contact coiipemting with said rim and first mentioned s-rin JOS 3P] CORRIGAN. Witnesses:

DAVID M. Tito'mos, Pmn Caaxr. 

